Right here is the most recent replace to our record of advisable Intel motherboards in our sequence of motherboards patrons guides. All numbers within the textual content are up to date to replicate pricing on the time of writing.
Finest Intel Motherboards: Vacation 2022
Since we posted our earlier motherboard guides, there was a few notable processor launches. Maybe one of the spectacular of the aforementioned launches is Intel’s thirteenth Gen Core sequence, codenamed Raptor Lake. Not solely is Intel’s thirteenth Gen Core sequence highly effective as we highlighted in our launch day assessment, but it surely gives a number of ranges of affordability on account of its help for each DDR5 and DDR4 reminiscence. This implies customers can pair up the flagship Core i9-13900K with a premium Z790/Z690 motherboard and quick DDR5 reminiscence for final efficiency, and even go for the extra inexpensive Core i5-13600K with DDR4 and a extra modest motherboard mannequin.
We’re specializing in Intel right here and there are numerous chipsets that characteristic help for Intel’s thirteenth Gen Core sequence processors together with the most recent Z790 motherboards that characteristic PCIe 5.0, in addition to the earlier Z690, H670, and B660 chipsets. With Intel’s 700 and 600 sequence chipsets permitting help for each the earlier twelfth Gen Core sequence and the most recent thirteenth Gen Core sequence, there may be a lot to sink your enamel into. Whether or not your focus is on acquiring final efficiency, constructing a system for high-end gaming, in addition to one providing good efficiency at value, it is time to undergo our greatest picks in our Intel motherboard patrons information for the 2022 vacation interval.
Listed below are our selections within the motherboard marketplace for Intel. For AMD suggestions, head on over to our AMD information. That is up to date month-to-month identical to our Intel motherboard patrons information.
| Intel Motherboards Suggestions Vacation 2022 |
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| Section | Motherboard | Reminiscence Kind | Amazon | Newegg | MSRP |
| Value vs Options | MSI Professional Z690-A WIFI | DDR5 | $229 | $229 | $250 |
| Worth | ASRock B660 Professional RS | DDR4 | – | $140 | $140 |
| Mini-ITX | GIGABYTE Z690I Aorus Extremely Lite | DDR4 | $140 | $140 | $170 |
| Cash No Object | ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Excessive | DDR5 | $1000 | $1000 | $1000 |
Our suggestions for motherboards are primarily based totally on private {and professional} opinions. There are notably many alternative motherboards throughout the Intel chipset household permitting help for each thirteenth and twelfth Gen Core processors. These embody the most recent Z790. in addition to the earlier Z690, B660, H660, and H610 chipsets. We have thought-about and factored all of those into our resolution, and finally, a few of our selections and choices listed below are additionally restricted by what inventory is obtainable.
It’s value highlighting as we did in our assessment of the Core i9-13900K and Core i5-13600K processors, that the most recent Z790 chipset gives no ‘efficiency’ associated advantages regardless in the event you go for a thirteenth or twelfth Gen Core sequence processor. We requested Intel straight about this they usually confirmed that Z790 gives extra PCIe 4.0 lanes and I/O choices than Z690, however with reference to uncooked compute and gaming efficiency, customers should not expertise any variations. Which means Z690 and different 600-series Intel chipsets provide customers numerous avenues to constructing a system with both DDR5 or DDR4 reminiscence, as each generations (thirteenth/twelfth) help this.
Finest Intel Motherboard For Gaming/Efficiency
MSI Professional Z690-A WIFI (DDR5) ($229 at Amazon/$229 at Newegg)
Whereas efficiency is subjective to the general {hardware} configuration of a system, the motherboard is undoubtedly the gateway to unlocking the entire new options. There are numerous LGA1700 socketed fashions to think about, however one board that piques my curiosity and continues to take action is from MSI, the Professional Z690-A WIFI (DDR5) to be precise. Now whereas the aesthetic may not be the standard quintessential gaming-themed motherboard, it is acquired every little thing wanted to get avid gamers off the bottom with an honest characteristic set, and it has an equally engaging value level. And as we have made clear all through, the MSI Professional Z690-A WIFI does provide help with Intel thirteenth Era Core sequence processors by way of a BIOS replace.
A few of the MSI Professional Z690-A WIFI’s most notable options embody Intel’s newest Wi-Fi 6E CNVi with an Intel I225-V 2.5 GbE controller. Coupled with help for as much as three PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2, one PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2, and 6 SATA ports, it has every little thing a gamer may need starting from super-fast NVMe and even standard laborious drives for recreation storage. One of many greatest developments of choosing Alder Lake is that it has loads of diverse PCIe help, together with one full-length PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots working at x4/x1, with an extra and smaller PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. Maybe an important addition to Z690 is help for the most recent DDR5 reminiscence, with the MSI Professional Z690-A WIFI supporting DDR5-6400 out of the field, with a mixed capability of as much as 128 GB throughout 4 reminiscence slots.
The MSI Professional Z690-A WIFI can at the moment be bought for $229 at each Amazon and Newegg. A Z690 mannequin with DDR5 help, PCIe 5.0 help, three M.2 slots, and Wi-Fi 6E/2.5 GbE for $229 is a incredible value. A lot of the Z690 boards are so over-engineered {that a} mannequin equivalent to this may nonetheless offer you all of the efficiency advantages of the thirteenth and twelfth technology Intel chips, however with extra funds to spend on DDR5 reminiscence, storage, and maybe in the event you’re fortunate, a graphics card; inventory allowing after all.
Players on a funds will admire the characteristic set, whereas all of the efficiency advantages of Alder Lake will be unleashed with the MSI Professional Z690-A WIFI, and this makes it our decide for avid gamers. MSI additionally has a non-Wi-Fi enabled model of this mannequin that’s listed on Newegg and Amazon for $195, if gaming over wi-fi simply is not appropriate for you, however at $229, we might wholly advocate getting the Wi-Fi 6E model.
Customers may also go for the DDR4 model which sells for across the identical value, with the identical options and format, albeit, with none of the efficiency advantages that DDR5 reminiscence gives.
Finest Intel Motherboard: The Worth Choice
ASRock B660 Professional RS (DDR4) ($N/A at Amazon/$140 at Newegg)
In relation to defining what worth is, the time period is wholly subjective to what an individual can afford. For my part, it comes right down to what gives probably the most by way of options in opposition to the general value (options vs value). With Intel B660 fashions providing help for each Intel’s Core thirteenth Gen sequence processors and the earlier twelfth Gen sequence, frugal customers may not wish to manually overclock and make the most of Intel’s Turbo options designed to squeeze additional efficiency the place they’ll. Enter one in every of our earlier picks in current occasions, the ASRock B660 Professional RS (DDR4) motherboard. With no worth chipsets obtainable as of but from Intel’s 700 sequence chipsets, we have pivoted to one in every of Intel’s extra budget-friendly chipsets on the earlier technology, B660, and the ASRock B660 Professional RS (DDR4) is our choice to get some worth out of the present Intel thirteenth technology and the earlier twelfth technology processors.
A few of the predominant options of the ASRock B660 Professional RS embody help for the extra inexpensive DDR4 reminiscence, with speeds of as much as DDR4-4800, help for the excellent Core i5-13600K processor, in addition to help for all of Intel’s Alder Lake-S desktop processors such because the Core i5-12600K and Core i3-12300. Regardless of Intel’s B660 chipset not coming with help for overclocking, that is to not its detriment because it focuses extra on providing worth with a funds Intel I219-V Gigabit Ethernet controller, with an equally cost-effective Realtek ALC897 HD audio codec.
Different options embody one full-length PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, one full-length PCIe 4.0 x4 slot, and two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. For storage, ASRock consists of two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots, with one PCIe 3.0 x2/SATA M.2 slot, in addition to 4 SATA ports. For a funds mannequin, there are 4 USB 3.2 G1 Kind-A and two USB 2.0 ports on the rear panel, however ASRock does embody one USB 3.2 G1 Kind-C entrance panel header (one port), two USB 3.2 G1 Kind-A headers (4 ports), and one USB 2.0 header (two ports) for customers requiring extra connectivity.
The ASRock B660 Professional RS is at the moment in the stores at Newegg for $140, which is an efficient value for every little thing that it gives. Amazon does inventory this mannequin, however availability is sporadic and adjustments on a weekly foundation, so we advocate customers purchase this at Newegg. Whereas some could argue that there are ‘higher’ motherboards obtainable, what’s in the funds area at the moment, DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 aren’t sometimes a priority or viable for customers to learn for these with out giant wallets, and the ASRock B660 Professional RS is what it’s, worth and wise choice for customers on a funds.
Finest Intel Motherboard: The Finest Mini-ITX Motherboard
GIGABYTE Z690I Aorus Extremely Lite (DDR4) ($140 at Amazon/$140 at Newegg)
At current, small kind issue fanatics have not actually had a straightforward time in having the ability to spotlight high-performance elements, with out the inevitable pitfalls that include them equivalent to extreme energy draw and thermals. The opposite detrimental subject with small kind issue elements is value; they are often fairly costly, however not all of them. The GIGABYTE Z690I Aorus Extremely (DDR4) Lite Version is an attention-grabbing mini-ITX motherboard with a comparatively first rate characteristic set, however at an astonishingly low value for a small kind issue mannequin.
A few of the GIGABYTE Z690I Aorus Extremely (DDR4) Lite’s predominant options embody help for each Intel thirteenth and twelfth Gen Core sequence processors, two reminiscence slots with help for as much as DDR4-5333, and one full-length PCIe 3.0 x16 slot. For storage, there’s help for as much as two M.2 drives, together with one PCIe 4.0 x4 (2260/2280) on the again aspect of the board, and one PCIe 4.0 x4 2242/2260/2280 on the entrance. Along with this, there are 4 SATA ports with help for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays.
Wanting on the finer specs, the GIGABYTE Z690I Aorus Extremely Lite is utilizing a Realtek ALC4080 HD audio codec that powers simply two 3.5 mm audio jacks, whereas rear panel connectivity for the worth and dimension is superb. This consists of three USB 3.2 G2 Kind-A, one USB 3.2 G2x2 Kind-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. On the networking aspect of issues, GIGABYTE consists of an Intel I225-V 2.5 GbE controller and an Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 CNVi, which additionally consists of help for BT 5.2 gadgets.
Sure, the kicker with the Extremely Lite is that the principle PEG slot is proscribed to PCIe 3.0. Whereas this will put some customers off, the worth distinction between the ‘common’ Z690I Aorus Extremely Plus at $310 and the Lite model ($140) sits at round $170. Even with the extra bandwidth PCIe 4.0 gives versus PCIe 3.0, the variations are that when contemplating a $140 motherboard, you are unlikely to be pairing it up with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, and even an i9-13900K, though you might in the event you needed to.
Being primarily based across the Z690 chipset, the Extremely Lite does certainly provide help for overclocking, however with the spectacular ranges of turbo clock speeds at inventory on the most recent thirteenth Gen Core sequence processors, and even the twelfth Gen Core sequence for that matter, it makes guide overclocking much less required than ever earlier than. That is particularly related in small kind issue chassis the place the additional warmth generated from manually overclocking may cause extra issues.
If the PCIe 3.0 x16 PEG slot does not concern you, and also you’re planning on constructing a small kind issue system round Intel’s thirteenth or twelfth Gen Core sequence processors, then the GIGABYTE Z690I Aorus Extremely Lite (DDR4) is a cut price at $140. GIGABYTE has additionally made a DDR5 variant of this board for a little bit bit dearer at $160 at Newegg, whereas the common model with a PCIe 4.0 x16 PEG slot prices $310 for the DDR4 variant and $330 for the DDR5 model.
Finest Intel Motherboard: Cash Is No Object
ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Excessive ($1000 at Amazon/$1000 at Newegg)
For these fortunate sufficient to have the ability to ponder shopping for a flagship or halo product, there are many choices to think about on socket LGA1700. Though precise compute efficiency at inventory settings could also be comparable on a $1000 and a $300 Z790/Z690 motherboard, the additional cash spent is often on options, probably the most premium controller units, and extra I/O. As we’re specializing in cash no object right here, we have opted for a flagship Z790 mannequin at the moment obtainable at retail, and we have gone for the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Excessive.
The ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Excessive is a typical quintessential flagship with its brutish E-ATX-sized body and a great deal of inside and rear I/O capabilities. That is not the solely factor that units it aside from the standard motherboard although, because the Z790 Excessive is decked out with RGB LED lighting, in addition to a big AniME Matrix lighting part constructed into the rear panel cowl. Alongside the right-hand aspect of the board, the entire energy and inside I/O (aside from one USB header) characteristic right-angled connectors for a extra svelte look and it gives higher cable administration.
Wanting on the predominant characteristic set, the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Excessive has a really giant 24+1-phase energy supply utilizing ASUS’s typical teamed array, with twin 8-pin 12 V ATX CPU energy inputs situated within the prime left-hand nook. As is anticipated with a premium ASUS ROG Maximus motherboard, it has the entire normal overclocking options equivalent to an LN2 mode, Probelt, OC Retry button, sluggish mode, and an influence on button that are all sometimes related with excessive overclockers.
Storage choices consist of 1 PCIe 5.0 x4 slot, with two additional PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots on the board itself; ASUS does embody one in every of its ROG DIMM.2 slots permitting customers to put in an extra two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 drives into the board by way of an add-in card discovered within the equipment bundle. For standard storage drives equivalent to SATA SSDs and HDDs, ASUS consists of six SATA ports by way of the Z790 chipset with help for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays.
Different notable controllers embody two Thunderbolt 4 controllers, with one powering a Kind-C port on the rear panel and one TB4 port by way of an inside header on the PCB itself, in addition to an abundance of USB connectivity; there is a whole of 20 ports featured throughout the Z790 Excessive together with 2 x Thunderbolt 4 and forms of Kind-A and Kind-C all through. Actually, the rear panel alone has one Thunderbolt 4 Kind-C, one USB 3.2 G2x2 Kind-C, and eight USB 3.2 G2 Kind-A ports alone to make it a really complete setup for content material creators and avid gamers alike.
In relation to networking, ASUS has opted for a premium Marvel AQtion 10 GbE controller with a separate Intel I225-V 2.5 GbE controller powering one port every. Wi-fi capabilities come by an Intel Wi-Fi 6E CNVi add-in card utilizing the Z790’s built-in PHY with help for the 6 GHz wi-fi band in addition to BT 5.2 gadgets. Built-in audio is equally spectacular with a ROG SupremeFX ALC4082 HD audio codec doing a lot of the work, whereas an ESS Sabre ES9218 Quad DAC permits help for greater impedance headphones than the usual barebone motherboard audio options.
The ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Excessive has an MSRP of $1000, and as such is at the moment in the stores at each Amazon and Newegg for a similar value. Whereas it is not a straightforward tablet to swallow until cash is not any object, every little thing concerning the ROG Maximus Z790 Excessive screams high quality. It has a great deal of I/O, each internally and on the rear panel and the addition of twin Thunderbolt 4 controllers is prone to please some. With a well-rounded choice of premium controllers, stable networking capabilities, spectacular built-in audio, and help for DDR5-7800 out of the field, the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 ticks all of the bins I might need for a desktop-focused platform.
